‘Pride Is You. Pride Is Me.’

Written by Sam Olson of The Olson Group with RE/MAX Realty Affiliates in Reno, Nevada

Living an authentic life is the backbone of so many of our affiliates’ businesses. Brian Buffini bought a private plane on the profits of teaching authenticity. Oscar Wilde wrote, “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” The coaching adage “niches make riches” springs forth from authenticity. Gary Vaynerchuk, Tony Robbins and even our CEO Adam Contos all speak to the same concept: “This above all else, to thine own self be true.”

But authenticity does not come easily to everyone. For many in the LGBT community, living an authentic life begins with coming out – a deeply personal and very public act at the same time. An often fearful time, with no playbook, and one overflowing with opportunity. In some respects, its partnership with the National Association of Gay and Lesbian Real Estate Professionals (NAGLREP) was a coming-out moment for RE/MAX.

I first learned about NAGLREP at R4 2018, and I knew it was my place. My people. Just as I knew the only brand I ever wanted to affiliate with was RE/MAX. NAGLREP did not have an official or organized presence at R4 then. LGBT visibility was accomplished through small acts and through small dedicated groups. Scott Garstka (RE/MAX 200 Realty in Orlando, Florida) and Evan Smith (RE/MAX Experience in Wilton Manors, Florida) passing out LGBT rainbow lanyard flags comes to mind.

By 2019, NAGLREP had expressed the desire to have an official Mixer at R4 – armed with just a shoestring budget, no dedicated space and a mailing list. And we pulled it off! Brandon Prewitt (RE/MAX Metro Plus in Columbus, Ohio) was first in line to volunteer, and about 25 LGBT and allied affiliates got together. We met in person, we supported one another and together we discovered there was a need for more involvement.

By R4 2020, we had over 60 affiliate members gather at our Mixer, and our Denver leadership team sent representatives. There was a centrally located mid-day meeting space to connect, and we also launched our RE/MAX LGBTA Coalition Facebook group. I realized – I think all of us did – that while we wanted the national leadership to create a movement for us, they wanted us to create our own grassroots organization to operate with the support of our Denver team. Our national leadership team didn’t create our group; it did something much more difficult and enduring – it created the opportunity for us to grow and flourish. It allowed our members to tap into that entrepreneurial spirit we all have as small business owners and create what we needed, with the flexibility for it to adapt. Our national leadership team gave us a megaphone. And we intend to use it.

As a lifelong gay man, I have seen too many instances of “pink washing,” where corporations attempt to tap into the buying power of the LGBT community by sponsoring events, tabling at festivals and redesigning their logo in the rainbow colors. Yet these companies disappear when the community relies on them for more than a wallet. Not so with RE/MAX. RE/MAX – partnered with NAGLREP – was an early and ardent supporter of the Equality Act in Congress in 2019. RE/MAX is a major national sponsor of NAGLREP, and has been for many years. The RE/MAX presence at the NAGLREP Conference gets bigger and better every year. From transaction assistants all the way down to the CEO, every level of RE/MAX is built on inclusion, meritocracy and the knowledge that equality does not diminish our organization – it enhances it.

While 2020 LGBT Pride festivals across the world are delayed due to social distancing, our cities convulse under sometimes violent protests and we feel more divided than ever, it’s critical to remember what Pride Month stands for: inclusion, love, and the securing of freedoms for all. Pride is not a festival. Pride is not a weeklong party or a destination. Pride is you. Pride is me. Pride is the ingrained need to lend a helping hand without a second thought, to seek out and remedy injustices, and to live your most authentic life while helping others live theirs. Pride is our shared history and the collaborative future we build together.

The LGBT community, and our allies within the real estate industry, including and especially RE/MAX, stand firm in our commitment to extending the dream of homeownership to all, and identifying and removing the obstacles that stand in the way of marginalized communities.

Home is where the heart is, and as industry leaders, we have a responsibility to make sure that homeownership is within reach for all who want it.